The Cuban Revolution

The society on the island nation of Cuba had experienced many events in the twentieth
Century which motivated the revolution. Cuba’s separation from Spanish rule in 1898, the
American interest and influence on Cuba (1783 to the 1950’s), the rise of the Batista regime
into government (1940 to 1959), Castro’s fight and overall succession in 1959 and the
involvement of the Cold War on Cuba (1960 to 1991). These were all factors contributing to
the overall outcome of the Cuban revolution.

Cuba had been a colony of the Spanish empire from 1511 till 1898 and in the nineteenth
Century there many attempted rebellions made to claim independence and break the ties
with Spain. As Cuba had great fertile soil the agriculture created great wealth in fruit, sugar
and tobacco, though none of the profit went to the Cubans as it went out of Cuba and into the
Spanish empire’s treasury. This loss of wealth angered many Cubans and in 1819 the first of
several rebellions to break ties with the Spanish empire took place in Cuba. The revolt was
crushed under the Spanish, there were another six rebellions between 1819 and 1855 all were
defeated. In an effort to suppress the rising civil unrest in Cuba, which imposed an increasing
threat on severing ties with Spain, the Spanish government imposed many restricting and
repressive rules on the citizens of Cuba. The laws included laws banning Cubans from setting
up businesses, taking public posts, taking legal actions against a Spaniard and travelling
without permission. Marriages between Cubans and Spaniards were annulled (dissolved as
though it had never taken place). These new laws imposed by the Spanish government
created even greater hostility between the people of Cuba and Spain. In 1868 the Ten Years’
War broke out between the Cubans and the Spanish government and in 1878 when the war
had stopped, conflict was still continuing between the Cubans and the Spanish. A revolt
against the Spanish, led by Jose Marti, broke out in 1895. The rebellion broke Cuba’s tie with
Spain but did not make Cuba an independent nation. To aid the revolt in 1895, the Committee
of Cuban Exiles was established in the United States to encourage American citizens to
support Marti. The Committee of Cuban Exiles also handed stories of the War to American
newspapers in an effort to propagate a winning support for their cause. By 1897 many of
these stories about Spanish atrocities were published in major newspapers became very
much exaggerated and even false. The USS Maine sailed to Cuba in 1898 on a ‘courtesy visit’
and on February 15 exploded in Havana harbour killing 260 sailors. This outraged many
Americans, demanding war with Spain. On 25 April 1898 the United States declared war on
Spain. When Spain was defeated the United States signed the Treaty of Paris on 20 December
1898, surrendering Cuba to United States’ rule. Spanish rule ended in Cuba on 1 January
1899.

The United States had been interested in Cuba from 1783 and created many impacts on
Cuban society during the Twentieth Century. In 1783, United States President John Adams
described Cuba as ‘a natural extension of the North American continent’. Then President
James Monroe made a speech to Congress in 1823 in which he stated ‘that the United States
would no longer become involved in European affairs and that Europeans should no longer
interfere with any part of the Americas’. President Monroe also affirmed that if any European
nation would interfere with any independent nation in the Americas that it would be seen as
an attack on the peace and security of the United States. Therefore the United States had the
power and right to act as a ‘protector for the region. These declarations became known as the
Monroe Doctrine. The establishment of this act created a close tie between the United States
and the countries in the Americas, including Cuba. America’s relationship with Cuba
strengthened even further when the United States defeated Spain in 1898, releasing Cuba
from Spain. When Spain ended their reign of Cuba on 1 January 1899, the United States
established a military government in Cuba which was present until the Cuban republic was
declared in 1902. The presence of the American military government in Cuba would have
significantly increased the interactions between Cuba and the United States. In 1901 the
United States presented the composers of the Cuban constitution with the Platt Amendment
and warned that American troops would stay in Cuba if the Amendment was not included in
the constitution. The Platt Amendment enabled the United States with powers to intervene
with both domestic and international Cuban political affairs. The Amendment also gave the
United States the ability to buy or lease land for military bases and gave the United States a
‘perpetual lease’ on Guantanamo Bay for use as a Naval Base. Though it had the intention to
help protect Cuba’s independence, many critics argue that the Platt Amendment effectively
placed Cuba under American control. The inclusion of the Platt amendment in the Cuban
constitution meant that the United States had a greater influence on Cuba. As the
Amendment limited the Cuban government’s power many Cubans were angered and
rebellions broke out in 1906, 1909 and 1912. The United States sent troops to occupy Cuba as
the rebellions were taking place and between 1917 and 1923 American marines occupied
Cuba to pacify strikes in the Cuban sugar industry. This long activity of American forces
stressed the ties between the Cuban public and the United States. As the United increased
their presence throughout Cuba representatives of the United States sugar interests enforced
policies on the Cuban sugar industry which were in favour of US economy at the expense of
Cuban growth. By 1925 the United States dominated the Cuban banks, mines, rail transport
and tobacco, cattle and sugar industries. This dominance of America in the Cuban economy
shaped a great influence on Cuba. The American influence on Cuba heightened in the 1950’s
as the country flourished and Havana was called ‘the Latin Las Vegas’ due to its large
gambling scene. This transformation of Cuba became very profitable for American businesses
and was a centre of organised crime. American-owned businesses possessed 90 percent of
Cuban mines, 40 percent of the Cuban sugar industry, 80 percent of Cuban public services, 50
percent of Cuban railways and all of the oil companies within Cuba. These American
influences and dependencies created a tension with many Cuban people who believed the
political price of the economic dependence was too high and that since the end of Spanish
rule all the governments had favoured the United States sugar market. In a speech by
American citizen Arthur Schlesinger Junior he describes Havana “I was enchanted by Havana –
and appalled by the way that lovely city was being debased into a great casino and brothel for
American Businessmen…”, and goes on to state, “One wondered how any Cuban … could
regard the United States with anything but hatred.” These statements provide examples of
American influence within Cuba and reasons for the Cuban people to revolt. As the Cuban
government of the 1950’s became increasingly unpopular, support was sent from American
citizens in an effort to sustain Cuban opposition groups. This swing of American support,
against Batista’s government, gave a chance for a revolution to begin.

Fulgencio Batista is a key figure in the Cuban revolution of 1959. Batista started his reign of
power in 1933 after a military coup called ‘Sergeants Revolt’, where he ended the rule of
Machado. After Batista over threw the government, he controlled the presidency of Cuba. As
Batista directed the presidency his influence over the president was absolute. When Batista
became president in 1940 to 1944 he drew up a democratic constitution. After Batista
stepped down the next two governments were repressive and increasingly corrupt. The Cuban
public were angered by the governments and another political party, the Orthodox Party led
by Eduardo Chibas, was created. The Orthodox party was favoured to win the Cuban election
of 1952. In March 1952, weeks before the election, Batista overthrew the government in a
military coup and cancelled the election. The new government was repressive and as
president Batista abolished the Cuban constitution, dissolved the Congress (parliament) and
outlawed the Cuban Communist Party. Many Cuban people opposed the coup and the new
government creating a hostile relationship between Batista and numerous Cubans. Under
Batista’s new government gambling and American businesses flourished and a large gap of
wealth in the country was produced. Prostitution was also flourishing under the Batista
regime. Although Cuba had one of the best standards of living within the Latin region, Cuba’s
national wealth was not equally distributed, with extremes of poverty and wealth. The large
Cuban middle class were frustrated with their lack of political power and influence which
created tension between many Cuban workers and the government. Throughout the 1950’s
the Cuban economy appeared to flourish, though it largely depended on the United States
buying sugar. This reliance on the sugar industry created a decreasing popularity for Batista;
Che Guevara called Cuba “the Sugar factory of the United States”. Additionally the sugar
industry could only offer Cubans with seasonal work for four months of the year which created
an eight month unemployed part of the year. Another reason for the continuing unpopularity
of Batista was that Cuba had become a ‘playground for the United States with gambling,
prostitution and large-scale corruption flourishing and the American mafia an increasing
presence’. The large and wide-spread poverty in the rural areas and small amount of welfare
and social services were also contributing factors to the decreasing popularity of Batista. As
the opposition against Batista increased, groups started to form over Cuba in a protest
against the government. These groups were mainly composed of young students. In response
to the uprising Batista placed harsh punishment on any strikes or anti-government rallies and
even sent government troops to kill the leaders of the rebel groups. The violent and ruthless
retaliation of the government created even more tension between the Batista government
and the people of Cuba. One major rebel group, led and founded by Fidel Castro, called the
‘July 26 Movement’ gained large support in cities and assembled demonstrations, arson
attacks and bombings in protest against the Batista government. These ‘attacks’ against the
government were met by brutal reprisals made by the Cuban police and army. Batista
ordered the police to pacify the outbreaks made by the ‘July 26 Movement’, saying “No
wounded! No prisoners!” The severity of Batista’s reaction to the revolts made many
moderate Cubans to support Castro and only increased his opposition. From the middle of
1958 rebel forces started an offensive against Batista; they quickly captured many towns and
by the end of the year controlled half of Cuba. With a lack of military and public support
Batista fled Cuba on the first of January 1959.

Fidel Castro and the ‘July 26 Movement’ were greatly involved in the Cuban revolution of
1959. As the opposition against the Batista government grew, Fidel Castro, a member of the
Cuban Orthodox party and Student leader, claimed that the only way to oppose Batista was
through an arms uprising. When Batista led his second military coup in March 1952 and on 26
July 1953 Castro and approximately 160 rebels launched an attack against Moncada Army
Barracks. Castro and the rebels were immediately defeated and Castro was arrested. This
attack, led by Castro, against the Moncada barracks would have had an abrupt effect on the
government and people of Cuba. When Castro was on trial he gave his famous defence
speech, ‘History will absolve me.’ In his speech Castro articulated his political views and
affirmed three social forces that would determine his revolutionary strategies and alliances.
Castro was sentenced to 15 years in jail though was released only two years after his
sentence on 15 May 1955. After Castro and the rebels were released from prison they fled to
Mexico seeking support for their revolutionary effort against the Cuban government. In 1956
whilst still in Mexico, Castro met with revolutionary activist and Argentinean doctor Che
Guevara. As the rebel group, called the ‘July 26 Movement’, gained large support in Mexico,
Castro and Guevara started to organise an expedition by boat to Cuba to begin their rebellion
against Batista. On the second December 1956 the ‘July 26 Movement’ landed in Cuba and
were faced by hostile resistance from government troops. After the ‘July 26 Movement” had
infiltrated Cuba they met in the Sierra Maestra mountains and formed a guerrilla movement
fighting government troops in the Sierra Maestra region. On 27 July 1957 the ‘July 26
Movement’ published the ‘Sierra Manifesto’ which outlined the major policies of the
movement. The movement was split into two sections, the Sierra and the Ilano. The ‘July 26
Movement’ also used propaganda as a method of gaining support, they set up a pirate radio
station and Castro was granted an interview with the ‘New York Times’ in 1957. The support
had grown so much in Cuba that by 1957 some sections of the Cuban army supported Castro
and in 1958 had 300 guerrilla fighters and many urban areas started their own underground
rebel groups in support of Castro and the ‘July 26 Movement’. This increase of support was
necessary in the effort to fight against the Batista government and begin the revolution. As
Castro gained support, from both domestic and international people, creating an image
through the media as the legitimate leader of anti-Batista forces and promising land reforms
and the implementation of the democratic constitution of 1940, the Batista government lost
support. The support had grown so much in Cuba that by 1957 some sections of the Cuban
army supported Castro and the ‘July 26 Movement’. In 1958 the rebels called for a general
strike, though it was not achieved as the people had a too strong fear of the government’s
reprisals. In May 1958 a meeting was held in the Sierra Maestra where all factions of the
rebels met, blame was put on Ilano for the failure of the general strike and Castro was made
supreme commander-in-chief of the whole rebel forces. With Castro in command of the entire
rebel group he would be the inevitable leader of the country when rebels defeat Batista. From
the middle to end of 1958, Castro and men defeated Batista’s forces on numerous battles
across Cuba. The Battle of El Jigue in July 1958 was a key victory for the ‘July 26 Movement’
and was the beginning of the rebels advance on Havana. In August Castro ordered two
separate columns of troops to push back Batista’s forces. One to be led by Camilo Cienfuegos
the other was led by Che Guevara. Both of the rebel groups quickly advanced forward as they
defeated Batista’s forces. Midway through the advance in October, the ‘July 26 Movement’
proclaimed the Third Law for the Sierra Manifesto. This new law granted ownership to tenant
farmers, squatters and sharecroppers working on areas of land less than 67 acres, and would
have appealed to many rural Cubans and therefore boosted support for the rebels. In the final
months of 1958 both rebel forces had captured a number of towns and effectively controlled
half of Cuba and military support for Batista fell away. On the first of January 1959 Batista fled
Cuba and the rebel forces entered Havana on the second of January. A new Cuban
government was established on the fifth of January; Castro assumed the post of commander-
in-chief of the military. In February of 1959 Castro became Prime Minister and had 550 of
Batista’s associates executed and many more put on trial. While Castro was Prime Minister he
introduced many popular policies. He then suspended all elections and proclaimed himself as
‘President for Life’. Once Castro was in complete power he started to revolutionize much of
Cuba. Though in the early stages of the reform, it could be seen that it was a Marxist
revolution, though Castro had never declared himself a Communist he favoured many of their
policies, including nationalising the media and many other industries. When Castro visited the
United States, he met with Vice-President Richard Nixon and after Castro left Nixon believed
that Castro was a communist. As Castro imposed more communist influenced policies, the
relationship between Cuba and the United States began to deteriorate and Castro began a
relationship with the SOVIET UNION. In 1961 at a funeral Castro declared that the revolution
was socialist and in December of that year stated that he was communist.

The Cold War between the United States and the SOVIET UNION became a central issue in
revolutionary Cuba. As the relationship between the United States and Castro’s government
deteriorated, Castro started diplomatic ties with the SOVIET UNION in an effort to keep his
government alive. In February 1960 the SOVIET UNION send much needed farm and industrial
equipment into Cuba and in retaliation American owned oil refineries in Cuba refused to refine
oil shipped over to Cuba by the SOVIET UNION. As the relationship between Cuba and the
SOVIET UNION strengthened the United States threatened Cuba by stating they would buy
less sugar from Cuba. In 1961 the United States placed a total trade embargo on Cuba and in
response the SOVIET UNION increased their support for Cuba. On 17 April 1961, around 1400
anti Castro Cubans landed in the Bay of Pigs, in an attempt the Central Intelligence Agency
had to start an uprising against Castro. The invasion was quickly defeated by the Cuban
military forces and the tie between Cuba and the SOVIET UNION strengthened. In 1962 Cuba
agrees to place Soviet missile installations within Cuba in return for aid and support. Soviet
President Nikita Kruschev said it would be the best defence against further US attacks on
Cuba, he promised to give ‘all necessary assistance.’ In July 1962 Soviet ships arrived in Cuba
carry the equipment and around 40 000 troops. When a United States U-2 Spy plane detected
Soviet built air defences, Kruschev stated they are only for the defence of Cuba. In October, a
United States U-2 plane took photos of Soviet ballistic missile sites and Soviet planes capable
of carrying nuclear missiles. American President John Kennedy orders the United States Navy
to form a blockade around Cuba in an effort to stop the construction of the Soviet missile
bases in Cuba. On 25 October the United States Navy intercepted a Soviet oil tanker and
turned back 12 other ships. Kruschev wrote two letters to Kennedy on 26 October, Kennedy
only replied to the first and gave the SOVIET UNION an ultimatum: a promise to lift the
blockade and not to invade Cuba if all of the missile sites were removed, war would break out
if the Soviets said no. On 28 October Kruschev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba.
Castro was humiliated and angered as both of the superpowers had left him out of their
negotiations. Furthermore, the United States was able to persuade the Organization of
American States to end diplomatic relations with Cuba, in response to Castro's "shameful"
actions.
The Cuban Missile Crisis made it clear that Cuba could not survive on its own without the
protection and aid sent from the SOVIET UNION and when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989
Cuba was threatened with collapse though Castro introduced a number of restrictive and
harsh economic measures named the ‘Special Period.’

In conclusion there were several key events in Cuba’s history which affected the Cuban
revolution. The main catalysts for the revolution are Cuba’s separation from Spanish rule in
1898, the American interest and influence on Cuba (1783 to the 1950’s), the rise of the
Batista regime into government (1940 to 1959), Castro’s fight and overall succession in 1959
and the involvement of the Cold War on Cuba (1960 to 1991).